Muslim Clerics Shun Religious Ringtones

(AP)  Muslim clerics at a leading seminary in India have asked people not to use verses from the Quran as ringtones for their mobile phones, saying the practice was un-Islamic.

Clerics at the Dar-ul Uloom seminary in the northern Indian town of Deoband issued an edict banning the use of Quran verses or Muslim call to prayers as ringtones, saying doing so violates Islamic law.

Quran verses "are not meant for entertainment," seminary official Mohammed Asumin Qazmi said Saturday.

"Anyone who persists in using these should be ostracized from society," Qazmi said by telephone from Saharanpur, a city 280 miles northwest of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh state.

Mufti Badru-Hasan, a leading cleric in Lucknow, said he supported a ban on such ringtones.

"One should hear the complete verse of the Quran with a pious mind and in silence. If it is used as a ringtone, a person is bound to switch on the mobile, thus truncating the verse halfway," he said. "This is an un-Islamic act."

Ringtones with Quran verses or the call to prayers are popular among Muslims in Uttar Pradesh, India's largest state.

They are most commonly used by people in their mid-40s and 50s, said Mukesh Sinha, a mobile phone company executive.

Many users consider the religious tunes a reminder of their faith.

Bank manager Faiz Siddaqui uses Quran verses as a ringtone.

"Whenever my phone rings, I hear these verses that stress the values of hard work and honesty, and I feel closer to my religion," Siddaqui said.

[lola12314a]

Just think, because I live in the U.S. I can write or say, anything I want, unless it's a threat. We won't get hung, burned, or beheaded. I do my share of complaining about where is the Reason? I feel Gratitude to live here. I'm female, and no one can tell me what to think, or how to feel, and I won't be sold for a dowry, and burned alive. I am not religious. I care what happens in this life, and I won't get killed for heresay. Oceans of blood could have been filled for our freedoms we have. We are able in our own ways, to try to change things, how fortunate we are!

[Expat type]

Add the prayer call to the sound of the headchop. Should connect the two as one is the result of the other....

[Expat type]

Add the music to the heads falling...a cry to prayer will go right with the beheadings..

[pure1energy]

I understand exactly where they are coming from,... but one has to consider to interest people who are unfamiliar hearing just a little may peak someones interest into reading the Quran...??
Besides that, people who are 'sporting' those ring-tones are either doing so because it means something to them, which is flattery or because they desire to hear it more often than other ring-tones which are less 'believer' like..
You can't contradict yourself, by on one hand saying, preach the quran to non-believers to convert them... and then on the other saying Don't do that.... (If you want things done right, do it yourself)

[naveed07]

I would like to add.
Islam appreciates healthy discussion, respect of all religions. Muslim clericks must investigate more. Must make the things simple.
Terrorist are few, majorities are silent.
Jewish, christians, muslims are parts of a chain of holy Prophets' teachings. They all must understand it for peace and hormony.

[sainiksangh]

I am a kshattriya.This is a good move by the cleriks. Hindus should learn something with their vandalising religion for business purposes and profiteering. Our daily hymns etc are used in ring tones,door bells and in car gadgets Not to say our religious images defiled on packing cases, tobacco packings in public hoardings all for profiteering.

[rhctam]

Answer me God the almighty, which religion teaches people to kill others. Is that a religion at all?????

[titocordero]

ghomes1
Please let's not be ignorant. Where did you read that Christians believe in 3 Gods? Surely not in the Christian bible. You're right a lot of Americans cannot criticize Islam for they know not that much about it, other than it was ISlamic terrorist who bombed the twin towers in N.Y, Islamic fanatics are the ones promoting killing woman and babies in the middle east and there so much division within the Islamic faith that other than killing each other they do not know how to agree to disagree without violence. Granted in this day and age not too many religions are guilt free when it comes to murder but it seems Islam has a lock on the rhetoric and the hate all in the name of allah the merciful and compassionate.
So please don't insult our intelligence with your BS..........

[pakaal]

Just keep in mind that these guys are in one seminary in one northern Indian town. That's gotta be like, three people in all! Definitely not a representative sample of Islamic scholars.

It's like saying all Christians have g a y *** with prostitutes while snorting meth just because Haggart did it....

[dmorg4]

ghomes1 I think us americans had a enough
of your Islam on SEPTEMBER 11 we dont want
any more most of your people most likly dont
want to kill but they are just as guilty as the
ones that do BECAUSE they dont speak out against
the violence of these radical idiots i suspect
that secertly they are happy when things happen
and thats why do dont try to do any thing about it